With almost every position for each National Premier League Women’s side on the league standings set in stone, the final round of 2025 will offer opportunities to the sides in the top four to take winning momentum into their finals campaigns.
Two sides looking to do this will be Canberra Olympic and their Round 21 opponents Canberra Croatia, as third plays host to second at O’Connor Enclosed on Sunday afternoon.
Frank Cachia’s side, although dropping off significantly from last season’s treble-winning campaign, will be confident of a deep finals run given the many glimpses of quality they have been able to replicate throughout 2025.
The reigning Champions come into the Canberra Classico having won four of their last five matches, and will undoubtedly be in confident spirits up against a Croatia side they defeated 3-2 two weeks prior.
A Tianah Miro brace, paired with a Madison Cachia strike got the job done that evening, and the two midfield dangerwomen will likely be needed to play a key part again for Olympic to claim three points, with Miro having scored four in her last three, and Cachia most recently coming off a stunning hat-trick against Majura FC mid-week in a 6-0 win.
Musie Elongo’s team on the other hand have had a vastly improved year, and will be determined to bolster winning confidence ahead of a Qualification Final meeting with Belconnen United in the first week of the finals.
Croatia have only lost once to a team aside from the Blue Devils, and that side was Olympic in that mid-week defeat, however three back-to-back victories since have put them back on a path of positive momentum, having most recently beaten Gungahlin United 2-0 away from home.
Over at Kambah 2 Tuggeranong United hosts Majura FC in a clash between the bottom two sides, which represents the only fixture of the round that could see teams change positions on the NPLW ladder, despite the 43-goal deficit between the two sides’ goal difference.
Ian Tom’s Tuggeranong will be glad to see the back of 2025, and although they have remained unable to pick up a second victory of the season, the latter parts have seen the Southside outfit put in some impressive displays.
The last meeting with Majura saw Tuggeranong shade chances on goal throughout the whole 90, which will surely contribute to a determination to achieve three points in their final outing of the year.
Davide Ruberto’s outfit will additionally point towards late chances to win the match in that 0-0 mid-week stalemate, and the club’s late 3-2 victory over Tuggeranong in Round 14, to dial down their opponents’ confidence, and make the case for his side to emerge victorious.
Three consistent 6-0 defeats have followed the point away at Tuggeranong for Majura, making this match an opportunity to not only secure sixth place, but to end their first campaign in the top tier on a high.
The conclusion of the last weekend of league football will take place at McKellar Park, where recently-crowned league winners Belconnen United entertain a West Canberra Wanderers side whose fight for finals fell narrowly short in the final matches of the season.
Scott Conlon’s team need one more success to secure an undefeated NPLW campaign, and will be determined to carry the title of invincibles into their finals matches to further emphasise how daunting the task is for opponents to defeat the Blue Devils.
Games against West Canberra in 2025 have largely been comfortable for Belconnen, having won 4-0 and 6-1 in both encounters this season, however with finals likely at the back of their minds, it may present an opportunity for Steve Rohan-Jones’ squad to become the first team to defeat the league champions.
Falling to Olympic at home in Round 20 would have been a difficult result to swallow, given that a win was needed to ensure chances of a top four finish remained achievable, however judging their season overall, it has been an incredible campaign from the NPLW’s fifth-placed side, who certainly have the quality in the squad to give Belconnen a challenge in the final match of the season.
FIXTURES
ROUND 21
Sunday 31 August
Canberra Olympic v Canberra Croatia (O’Connor Enclosed, 14:00)
Tuggeranong United v Majura FC (Kambah 201, 14:00)
Belconnen United v West Canberra Wanderers (McKellar Park, 15:00)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 11 | +104 | 54 |
| 2 | Canberra Croatia | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 67 | 19 | +48 | 40 |
| 3 | Canberra Olympic | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 64 | 32 | +32 | 36 |
| 4 | Gungahlin United | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 59 | 29 | +30 | 30 |
| 5 | West Canberra | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 50 | 33 | +17 | 26 |
| 6 | Majura FC | 18 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 85 | -73 | 7 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 18 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 125 | -116 | 4 |
| 8 | ANU WFC | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 42 | -42 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
25: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
21: Tamara COCHRANE (West Canberra Wanderers)
16: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
14: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
13: Megan CASTLE (Gungahlin United)
12: Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Bonnie YOUNG (Gungahlin United)
11 Talia BACKHOUSE (Belconnen United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Olympic)
10: Anneke CORRY (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
9: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United)
8: Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), April HILL (Canberra Croatia)
7: Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
6: Liliana ALTAMORE (Belconnen United), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United)
5: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Carmel LYNCH (Majura FC), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United)
4: Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Perri NASH (West Canberra Wanderers), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic), Ellie RAYMOND (Canberra Croatia), Reilly YUEN (Canberra Croatia)
3: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Leah CARNEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Sofia FURLANETTO (Majura FC), Olivia GURNEY (Canberra Olympic), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Riley MCQUEENIE (Canberra Croatia), Sofia MERKOUREAS (Canberra Croatia), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United)
2: Acacia ARGENTO (Tuggeranong United), Liana ALVES (Canberra Olympic), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Hannah BOURKE (Canberra Croatia), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Claire KENNEDY-SPENCER (Tuggeranong United), Olivia MARTINIELO (Majura FC), Ailish MCDONAGH (Belconnen United), Pia MCGHIE (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Croatia), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers)
1: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Angelina BABIC (Canberra Croatia), Layla BARBOUR (Majura FC), Lisa CARY (Belconnen United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Tayla HAMPSON (Canberra Olympic), Elvein IBRAHIM (West Canberra Wanderers), Nicole KALEB (Canberra Olympic), Mollie JONSSON (Tuggeranong United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Audrey MCLAREN (West Canberra Wanderers), Jessica MITCHELL (Tuggeranong United), Abigail MOSS (West Canberra Wanderers), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Saskia NEWMAN (Canberra Croatia), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (Canberra Croatia), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Maddison SAWKINS (Belconnen United), Maddie STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Rachel VAN AALST (Gungahlin United), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Lauren WATT (Tuggeranong United), Maggie WRIGHT (Majura FC)
TOP ASSISTS
15: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
11: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia)
10: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia), Bonnie YOUNG (Gungahlin United)
9: Anneke CORRY (Belconnen United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United)
8: Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United)
7: Tamara COCHRANE (West Canberra Wanderers), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Olympic)
6: Talia BACKHOUSE (Belconnen United), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers)
5: Megan CASTLE (Gungahlin United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Riley MCQUEENIE (Canberra Croatia), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic)
4: Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), April HILL (Canberra Croatia), Ailish MCDONAGH (Belconnen United), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic)
3: Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Tiana BOOTS (Canberra Croatia), Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Lisa CARY (Belconnen United), Olivia GURNEY (Canberra Olympic), Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Perri NASH (West Canberra Wanderers), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic), Madison SAWKINS (Belconnen United), Madeleine STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
2: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Annaliese GROVE (Gungahlin United), Tayla HAMPSON (Canberra Olympic), Chelsea HATELY (Gungahlin United), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Claire KENNEDY-SPENCER (Tuggeranong United), Jada LAMOND (Gungahlin United), Carmel LYNCH (Majura FC), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (Canberra Croatia), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Ellie RAYMOND (Canberra Croatia), Abigail RICHARDS (Majura FC), Juliana ROBERTSON (West Canberra Wanderers), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Croatia), Rachel VAN AALST (Gungahlin United)
1: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Liana ALVES (Canberra Olympic), Esperance ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United), Eliza BAKER (Majura FC), Layla BARBOUR (Majura FC), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Lena CHRISTOPHERSON (Tuggeranong United), Lucy D’ARCY (Gungahlin United), Rhiannon DAVIS (Canberra Olympic), Nicole KALEB (Canberra Olympic), Ariana KASHAN (Majura FC), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Stefi LEJINS (Belconnen United), Olivia MARTINIELLO (Majura FC), Pia MCGHIE (Canberra Croatia), Saskia NEWMAN (Canberra Croatia), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Stephenie NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Ariana RATHOUSKI (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Caitlyn SKILLICORN (West Canberra Wanderers), Ivy STEVENS (Gungahlin United), Sonja TOMANOVITS (West Canberra Wanderers), April VAN DUREN (Majura FC), Maggie WRIGHT (Majura FC)
Words: Sam Watson
